Dump-car structure



AugTZl, 1923. 11,465,375

J. R. STOVALL DUMP CAR STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 21, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w gwuzutoz J.R.E1tuva1l Aug. 21, 1923.

J. R. STOVALL DUMP CAR STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1922 J. R. Emvall Quorum:

Aug. 21, 1923.

J. R. STOVALL DUMP CAR STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 21 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwumx loz T. R. EI'UJVEITL Patented Aug. 21,. 1923.

UETE- TATE JAMES ROBERT STOVALL, 0F LOUISVILLE," KENTUCKY.

DUMP-CAB STRUCTURE.

4 Application filed August 21, 1922. Serial No. 583,311.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,1] AMES ROBERT STovALL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of, Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Inuprovements in Dump-Car Structures, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a dump car struc ture, and more particularly to means for opening and closing the bottom of a. dump car.

It is an object of the invention to provide means of this character capable of being applied to the conventional form of dump car and wherein the bottom is gradually opened without causing the same to swing downwardly or oscillate in any manner.

It is another object of the, invention to provide means of this character including a sectional bottom arranged for sliding movement beneath the car, and at the same time to regulate the discharge of the contents of the car.

Vith theseand other objects in view, the

invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of closure means for dump cars constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

showing the lowermost section of the bottom in a partially open, position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation and showing the sections in their closed position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the sections in their open position;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; I p

Figure 5 is a side elevation and sectional view with one of the side walls removed.

Referring to. the drawings, 5 designates a dump car of conventional form including a bottom 6 having an outlet opening 7 through which the contents of the car are. discharged. It is intended that this device be constructed in the form of an attachment for application to the various types of dump cars. The structure of this device, however, is of such a nature that it may be incorporated in the body of the car.

The invention comprises a frame 8, relatively deep, the end portion 9 of said frame being open, the sides 10 and 11 of the frame at the open end 12 being connected by braces 13. The upper edges of the sides 10 and 11 and the closed end let of the frame are intended to be connected to that portion of the bottom 6 adjacent the discharge opening 7 in such a way that the frame will be positioned parallel to the edges of the opening,

or in other words, parallel to the bottom of the car. The sides 10 and 11 of the frame are each provided with slots 15, 16 and 17. For the purpose of illustration three slots are shown. It is of course obvious that additional slots may be used, according to the size of the car and the size of the discharge opening 7 in order to permit the entire bottom of the car to be efficiently closed. The slot 17 is long, the slot 16 is shorter, while the slot 15 is shortest of all. One end of each slot extends through the end face of the side at the open end 12 of the frame. Braces 18 are secured to the ends of the sides 10 and 11 so as to close the open ends of the slots 15, 1G and 17. The braces 18 are removable, so as to permit repairing of the various portions of the structure when necessary. It will be noted that the longest slot 17 is disposed at the bottom of the frame, while the shortest slot is disposed at the top of the frame. the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Extending from the inner face of the end 14. of the frame is a short plate 19 which extends longitudinally of said end and has its lower end formed into a right angular flange 20 so as to space the plate from the closed end and prevent leakage of matter between the edge of the plate and the bottom member. Secured to the inner face of each of the sides 10 and 11 of the frame are shield plates 21, 22 and 23, each shield plate having a flange 24 extending inwardly, similar to the flange 20 of the plate 19, so as to space the shield from the wall. The shield 21 inclines from the upper edge of the slot 17 to the lower edge of the slot 16. The shield 22 inclines from the upper edge of the slot 16 to the loweredge of the slot 15, while the shield 23 inclines from the upper edge of the slot 15 to the top of the side. In this way the shield, similar to the slots, are arranged in stepped relation although in inclined positions with respect to the sides. Disposed within the upper portion of the open end 12 of the frame, is astationary bottom section 25, this. sect-ion having its end portions ex- "frame 8.

tended at right angles and bent obliquely of the bodyniember so that the edges of the flanges thus formed are disposed parallel.

with the edges of the frame 8. This causes the stationary section to in -line inwardly from the open end of the frame. The outer longitudinal edge of the stationary section is formed into a flange 27, adapted to be secured to the body portion of. the car. By

the inclination of the stationary section,

matter is discharged inwardly of the In order to close the bottom of the frame and thereby the bottom of the car, there is provided novel closure means in the form'i of a sectional bottom comprising sections 28,

, 29 and 30. Each section comprises a frame provide a relatively long leg The legs 34 and 35 are secured to the sides of the frame and within the frame so as to posit-ion the body portion of the length 33 substantially in an inclined plane relative to the frame 31.

Secured to the body. portion of the braces 33 is abottominemberBG which is intended to form a. portion of the bottom of the car when the closure means is in its closed position. This body member is naturally inclined in view of the structure of the braces so as to permit the sections to cooperate to provide a chute within the frame 8. The edge of the bottom member 36 adjacent the leg 34 is disposed within the frame, or in other words, substantially flush with the upper edge of the frame 31. A metallic plate 37 is secured to the body member 36, theedge 33 of said plate extending overthe edge of the frame 31 and the body ITlGll'lbGI, so as to prevent leakage of the contents of the car between the sections of the bottom.

All of the frames 31 of the sections 28, 29 and 30 are slidably; disposed'within the slots of the sides 10 and ii, The frame 28 is dis posedwithin the slot i'igtheframe 29 in the slot 16 and the frame 30 inthe slot 1. 5. The

. edges of the slots extend through the notches 32 of the frames 31. By this means each frame is slidable one above the other within the slots and longitudinally of the main frame 8. "in-view of the length ofthe slots 515, 16- and 17, the inner ends of said slots serve as stops to innit movement of the sections. this means the sections are disposed in overlapping relation.

In order hat the sections may be moved to one side of the frame, so as to expose the opening and permit discharge of the contents of the car, the following means is employed. This means consists of an arm 39 which is secured to each end of the see tions 28 and 29, said arm extending upwardly at right angles to the section and having its upper end 40 provided with are cess 41. The end portions 40ers substantially off-set so as toclearthe end portions of the section adjacent the arm. Each arm extends upwardly of the slot above and into the path of movement of the sections disposed in said slot. The sections 28 and 29, are each provided with actuating bars 42, said bars having their ends disposed at right angles to provide lingers 43, adapted to enter the recesses 41 of the arms 39, the shoulders formed by said recesses preventing disengagement of the fingers from the arms when the sections are in motion. One finger is used for movement of the section in one direction and the opposite finger for movement of the section. in the reverse direction, the arms 39 being used in both movements.

Secured to the end portions of the sections 28 and projecting beyond the sides 10 and 11 of the frame 8, are brackets 44, said brackets having an enlarged portion 45, said portion having a threaded opening 46. The portion 45 may be made inthe form of a nut and secured to the bracket so that the same may be removed for repairs or replacement in case of damage. Secured to each end portion of the sides 10 and 11 adjacent the ends of the slots 17 are brackets 47 and 48 having registering openings for the reception of anelongated screw shaft 49, said shaft being disposed within the: threaded opening 46, the brackets 47 and 48 serving as bearings for the ends of the shaft.

The end portion 50 of the shaft 49 pro jects beyond the bracket 47 and is provided with a crank member 51 by means of which the shaft is rotated, the end of the crank extending through openings provided in the end of a connecting rod 52, cotter pins being passed through the ends of the crank to prevent disengagement of the crank from" the connecting rod. One end portion of the connecting rod is provided with an opening 53 for the reception of the end of the crank 51, in order to prevent rotation of the shafts 4.9 when desired. By this means one of the shafts 49 is disposed on each side of the frame 8 and in the threaded portion 45 soas to cause sliding movement of the section28' longitudinally of the frame. When the sections are in their closed positions, the secnecting rod. The connecting rod may be connected to any suitable actuating means with the partsin position as above described, the bottom being opened by operation I of the connecting rod 52 so as to rotate-the crank members 51 thereby in'iparting sliding movement to the section 28 within the slot. 17

away from the end 14L of the frame. \Vhen the arm 39 of the section 28 reaches the end of the section 29, the end 40 0f said arm engages the adjacent finger 43 of the section 28. Continued movement of the section 28 will likewise cause movement of the section 29 so as to move the arm 39 of the section 29 toward the rearmost finger 43 of the section 30.

When the operation reaches this point all three of the sections will be moving at once, the section 28 being disposed beneath the section 29, and the section 29 gradually moving beneath the section 30. At the limit of the movement, all of the sections are dis posed substantially in alignment, that is, one above the other and beneath the stationary section 25, thereby entirely opening the bot tom of the frame.

In'view ofthe fact that the sections 28, 29 and 30' are arranged in an inclined position with respect to each other and in overlapping relation, the opening of the bottom may be gradual, so as to prevent a sudden discharge of the contents, and thereby eliminate waste. In addition to this the size of the opening may be regulated, as it is possible to stop the movement of the sections at any point. To close the sections the operation is reversed and is practically the same as the opening operation, with the exception that the arms 39 of the two lower sections move in the opposite direction and engage the forward fingers 43 of the sections 29 and 30, so as to move said'sections to their closed positions.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this invention provides a novel attachment in the form of closure means for a dump car capable of being applied to any conventional type of car and wherein it is possible to dump the car without danger to the operator, in view of the absence of downwardly swinging parts, and without requiring the operator to get beneath the car in order to actuate the dumping mechanism. In addition to this, should the car he set in motion before the bottom is closed, thereis no danger of any portion of the mechanism becoming damaged, as all portions, regardless of whether the sections are 1n their open or closed positions, are dis posed at all times within the frame 8 and are movable only within the limits of the frame. Furthermore, the opening and closing operation can be as gradual or as fast as desired. Regardless of these novel features, thesections are arranged in stepped relation to provide the desired inclined chute neces sary tofacilitate discharge of matter from a dump car.

lVhat is claimed is l 1. In combination with a car structure embodying a body member having a discharge opening, a frame disposed adjacent the opening, a bottom for closing said opening including a plurality of sections slidable horizontally in the frame, and means for successively moving said sections to their open and closed positions.

2. in combination with a car structure embodying a body member having a discharge opening, a frame disposed adjacent the openingg'a bottom for closing said opening including a plurality of sections slidable horizontally in the frame, and means carried by each section and operatively engaged with an adjacent section to move said sections successively from. their closed to their open position, and actuating means operatively engaged with one of said sections.

3. An attachment for dump cars comprising a frame adapted for connection to the edges of the discharge opening of a dump car, a closure member including a plurality of sections slidably mounted within the frame, means operatively engaged with one of said sections for moving said section in a substantially horizontal plane from one end of the frame to the other, and means carried by certain of said sections for engagement with an adjacent section for caus ing movement of said sections, according to the movement of the first mentioned section.

4. An attachment for dump cars comprising a frame adapted for connection to the edge portions of the discharge opening of a dump car, bottom sections slidably mounted within the frame, the sections being in stepped relation to each other, means operatively engaged with the lowermost section for moving said section toward the adjacent sections, and means carried by certain of said sections for engagement with adjacent sections to successively move said sections from their closed to their open positions and for continuing movement of the previously moved sections according to the movement of the lowermost section.

5. Closure means for dump cars comprising a supporting member adapted to be carried by the car structure adjacent the outlet opening of the car structure, and inclined closure sections slidably mounted in the supporting member and disposed in stepped relation.

6. Closure means for dump cars comprising a main frame, the interior of the frame communicating with the interior of the car structure, said frame including side and end members, the side members having spaced slots, closure frames slidable in the slots of the side members, a bottom 'member supported by each closure frame in an inclined position relative to the main. frame 7 the opening of the, car structure, and meansv for successively moving theiclosure frames and the bottom members thereof to one end of the main frame, a

7. In combination with a car structure embodying a body member havinga bottom discharge opening, a frame disposed beneath the opening, bottom sections slidable in the frame, and means for successively moving said sections to their open and closed positions, said movin means including cooperating members for holding said sections closed.

8. In combination with a car structure embodying a body member having a bottom discharge opening, a frame disposed beneath the opening, bottom sections movable in the frame, and means for moving said sections substantially in parallel planes relative to the bottom vof the frame and to each other,

said moving means including cooperating members for holding said sections closed.

9. In combination with a car structure embodying a body member having a bottom discharge opening, a frame disposed beneath the opening, bottom sections movable in the frame, means carried by each section and operatively associated with an adjacent section :to move said sections successively from their closed to their open position, and actuating means operatively" engaged with one of said sections, said moving and actuating means including members for holding said sections closed.-

10. In combination with a" car structure embodying a body member having'a bot.- tom discharge opening, a frame disposed beneath the. opening, bottom sections movable in the frame, means carried by each section and operatively associated with'an adjacent section to move said sections successively from their closed to their open position, actuating means operatively engaged with one of said sections, said moving and actuating means including members for holding said sections closed, said actuating means further including nut members fixed to opposite sides of said one section and having parallel operating screws in threaded engagement therewith, cranks upon adjacent ends of said screws, and a connecting rod operatively connecting said cranks for simultaneously actuating said screws, said connecting rod having an opening for reception of one of the cranks whereby said cranks may be connected in such relation as to prevent operation of said screws for holding the sections closed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. 7

JAMES ROBERT s ovALL; 

